Exercise Seven

Dual possessive determiners part 2

Possessive determiners, such as , , ā and ō, are used in combination with personal pronouns such as tāua, māua, rāua and kōrua. These possessive determiners, in combination with the personal pronouns, are used to show who has possession. These possessive determiners are also used to indicate whether there is one, or more than one, of the objects being talked about. To do this, the first t of the possessive determiner is omitted if there is more than one thing being spoken about, leaving ā or ō. Whether the ā or ō forms are used is determined by the relationship between the person and what is possessed.

If the possessor has, or had control of the relationship or is dominant, active or superior to what is owned, then the ā category is used

Hei tauira:
Kei reira ā māua tamariki. Our children are there.

In this situation the parents are superior to the children and therefore have or had, in a sense, control over the birth of their children.

If the possessor has, or had no control over the relationship or is subordinate, passive or inferior to what is owned, then the ō category is used.

Hei tauira:
Ko ēnei ō māua mātua. These are our parents.

In this situation the children are inferior to their parents and therefore have or had, in a sense, no control over their birth or the selection of their parents.

Along with these guidelines, the usual ā and ō category guidelines are also observed.

Ā categoryŌ category

Moveable property

Food or drink

Husband, wife, children, grandchildren

People in an inferior position

Animals, pets and crops

Active towards possessed

Part of anything, clothing, feelings, qualities

Transport

Water and Medicine

Habitation, buildings, seating, bedding

Land and towns

Companions, superiors, relatives (not husband, wife, children, grandchildren)


Table 3

For further explanations and exercises: Te Kākano pp. 52-56, 140-142; Te Aka.

Whiriwhirihia ngā kupu tika hei whakakī i ngā āputa.

Don’t forget to use commas, question marks, and fullstops and macrons where appropriate (ā,ē,ī,ō, and ū).

Kei whea

tāua tamariki?

Anei ō

kākahu.

Your (2)

Kua mau kōrua i

kōrua koti?

Kua oma atu ā

nanekoti.

Her/his and my (our)

Haria mai ō

pahikara.

Their (2)

Kaua e whāngai i

rāua kurī.

Hei aha ā i

pukapuka.

Your (2)

Kaua e wareware i

paraikete

Yours and my, (our) plural

Kia tika te kai i

pihikete.

Your (2) plural

Kua kite koe i

mātua?

Her/his and my (our) plural

I mauria mai

waea pūkoro?

Their (2) plural